Chick Pea Curry...and (not so) Weight Watchers Goodies

Week 2 of my Weight Watchers program, online...I lost 5 lbs. so far. But I must tell you, planning, is the "key" to this successful way of staying on track! It's not easy, when you think about various other foods to eat...easier to make, but hard when you have to say "no" or maybe just limit it to a bite?...or a small portion! Easier said, than done, but I did it, and I'm still doing it!

Last week, I was making mostly chicken dishes, with fresh and healthy vegetables, and this week I'm concentrating on legumes...all kinds of beans, and rice, and grain dishes. The only "sidetrack" is, that in the meantime, I'm also thinking about making cakes, and other snacks...which not necessarily from the Weight Watchers cookbook! As for instance...neither is the Chickpea Curry, but I'm sure, if I would google this recipe for WW, I could find similar recipe for this delicious dish!

Chickpea Curry
by; All Recipes.com

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 onions, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons fresh ginger root, finely chopped
6 whole cloves (I used 1 teaspoon ground cloves)
2 (2inch) sticks cinnamon, crushed (I used 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
Salt, to taste
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 (15 ounce) cans garbanzo beans
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, and fry onions until tender. Stir in garlic, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, salt cayenne, and turmeric. Cook for 1 minute over medium heat, stirring constantly. Mix in garbanzo beans, and the liquid. Continue to cook and stir until all ingredients are well blended and heated through. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro just before serving, reserving  reserving some, for garnish.
Note: I added 1 Tbsp. hot homemade pepper sauce for more spice, and flavor. Also served it over Jasmine rice
6- 8 servings; Points value: 7

Just because you decide to start the new year, in a more positive way, than all the previous years before, does not mean you cannot enjoy the "simple things in life" like buying yourself a special bouquet of flowers. In my case, I just happen to love fresh Baby's Breath...they are so pretty, delicate, and have such subtle fresh fragrance.

They only cost $4.00 for this gorgeous bouquet, which I trimmed back and placed in water, with ice cubes, and a Tbsp. of white vinegar to keep fresher, longer.

The beautiful hand painted dainty little vase is a "thrift find" for $.99 (cents) ...in fact, all the picture frames with my loved ones are all thrift finds, all of them, less than $5.00 and I just love brown wood frames, and these frames are all so unique, and elegant. So, there you have it, a little secret of simple happiness I wanted to share with you....and the wall paint color in my living room, is called Zen Green...a little bit of Zen goes a long way:D

You may be wondering what is this concoction, that's frying in the pan? Well, it's an old childhood favorite of mine which will be used to make the most amazing Hungarian "pogácsa" with cracklings...called "töpörtyü"...in English it would be biscuits...or scones? Not exactly sure which is the proper way to call it in English, but it's called Töpörtyüs Pogácsa!
Click on this link, and check it out. It is the most amazing pogácsa, so flaky savory, tasty, light, and delicious with the chopped little pork cracklings worked right into the dough!
Made by; none other, than a talented Hungarian/Canadian food blogger whom I happen to find quite accidentally...long story!
So here's the famous Pogácsa, made by Zsuzsa, @Zsuzsa in the kitchen

Zsuzsa explains how to purchase, and use the crackling, but does not have photos of it! Well, I went on an adventure hunt to my favorite Italian meat market...Mario's in Delray Beach (a little bit of drive, but well worth it)
Mike, was so kind and gracious to cut fresh pork fat for me...took him a little while, I should have pre-ordered it. Purchased about 2 lbs, which I diced and fried in vegetable oil to a crisp! It smelled so wonderful, as I was frying it...so, so fresh, you can smell the freshness of the aroma!

When they're fried up all crispy, and golden...remove them with a slotted spoon, and layer them on double layer paper towel, sprinkle with fine Kosher salt, and they are ready to be chopped for the Pogácsa, or just enjoy them with caution! ...I enjoyed a few pieces with a slice of fresh bakery rye bread with caraway seeds, and fresh Hungarian hot paprika...Oh, man!...Oh God!...If you love bacon...this is the Ultimate "bacon lover's dream"...I kid you not!...Just watch your cholesterol...pure fat, with just a hint of meat on it...but crispy, crunchy, and light as a "feather"...not WeightWatchers' delight...not by a long shot!

Any way, I'm going to the gym this evening...and will work out an extra 30 minutes on the cardio machines!
I'm not trying to steer you wrong...but you gotta have some kind of "guilty food pleasure"...and this is as guilty as it gets!